Vienna to create world-first art project robotic technology to be used in London

2nd September 2013, London. One artist, two robots, three pieces of art and a one of a kind art project initiated by the Vienna Tourist Board. On Thursday 26th September 2013, Vienna will make art history in Trafalgar Square. For the first time ever, one artist will create three pieces of art in three separate cities at the same time, using advanced robotic technology: Long Distance Art: Global.Studio.Vienna.

Viennese artist Alex Kiessling will create a unique drawing in Vienna, captured by sensors and transferred via satellite to robots in both London and Berlin which will replicate the drawing. A live stream will allow Londoners to watch both the artist in Vienna and the live feed from Berlin.

The public is encouraged to come down to Trafalgar Square to witness the challenging project and learn about this new technology in the art world where originals and replications overlap. The event will take place in Trafalgar Square from 10am to 5pm and ultimately showcase how art can connect cultures and cities.

Today visitors will find both tradition and innovation in Vienna, a cultural capital, offering a rich diversity of styles and eras from Baroque opulence to the avant-garde. As home to one of the ten largest cultural complexes in the world in the MuseumsQuartier, where Alex Kiessling will be working, the city is positioned to blend together the old and the new effortlessly.

Alex Kiessling commented:“If Andy Warhol’s Factory was a collection of assistants who carried out the work of their master, then the idea of robotic assistance redefines the concept completely. In this process several pieces come to life at the same time in different cities worldwide. In a decentralized global workshop or studio.”

Norbert Kettner, CEO, Vienna Tourist Board, added:“Vienna’s long and illustrious artistic tradition provides fertile ground for artists. Art in all its forms has always played a part in the lives of the city’s inhabitants – and much more so than in most other major cities. The Long Distance Art project is designed to focus attention on Vienna’s vibrant contemporary art scene, drawing a contrast with the rich cultural heritage that the Austrian capital is famous for. A city that only has eyes for the past does not deserve such a heritage – which is why Vienna is more than happy to show off its contemporary side.”

The Long Distance Art – Global.Studio.Vienna. project centres on the groundbreaking combination of contemporary art with cutting-edge technology. This also reflects Vienna’s smart city status, and its standing as one of Europe’s most vibrant, innovative and rapidly expanding cities.

Notes to editors

High-impact campaigns

Since 2010 high-impact events in public spaces have played an increasingly important role in the Vienna Tourist Board’s marketing strategy. All of these initiatives – including an exhibition of sensual paintings in the Paris subway network, an acrobatic waltz on a free-standing, 21-meter-high scaffold in Chicago, and a replica of Vienna City Hall built on a Barcelona beach using 200 tons of special sand – are designed to send a clear message: if you don’t visit Vienna now, you’re bound to miss out on something. Besides London and Berlin, more spectacular events in Bucharest and Prague are scheduled for the second half of 2013.

Alex Kiessling

Alex Kiessling’s works have their roots in traditional painting, simultaneously point to contemporary and timeless motifs at the same time, marking a fresh approach to figurative painting. Trips to the USA, China and Japan as well as sculptural projects have provided a significant source of inspiration for Kiessling’s visual language.

In 2013 Alex Kiessling staged Numen at the Viertelneun gallery, his largest exhibition to date, which included a range of large-format pieces and sculptural pieces. He will feature in several group exhibitions in September including Der Mann-nackt at Schloss Britz in Berlin. Between 2009 and 2012, Kiessling was involved in a range of projects and exhibitions in Vienna, Shanghai, Cyprus and Miami.